Downsizing - Irish alternative rockers My Bloody Valentine and US singer-songwriter Rodriguez are to headline this year's scaled-down Hop Farm Festival in Kent. Promoter Vince Power said the festival, the sixth to be held since 2008, would be over two days, on 5 and 6 July. Previous festivals have been held over three days with headline acts including Prince and Bob Dylan. "Last year has been tough for me, as it has been across the board for the festival market," said Power. "I wanted to keep the festival going, but I've had to make changes for it to continue." He said the festival would have a capacity of 10,000. Previously 30,000 have attended.
In Harmony - Former Britpop rivals Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn have buried the hatchet and performed together at a charity concert. Oasis guitarist Gallagher joined Blur singer Albarn and his bandmate Graham Coxon at a Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Paul Weller completed the supergroup, who performed Blur's 1999 track Tender. Gallagher curated this year's series of Teenage Cancer Trust concerts.
In The Saleroom - Pictures of The Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert, taken by an amateur photographer who bluffed his way backstage, have sold for £30,000. Marc Weinstein used a fake press pass to get next to the stage for the historic New York show. The only other photographer present ran out of film during the gig. Weinstein's 61 black and white images with copyright fetched £30,680, compared with a pre-sale estimate of £15,000-£20,000, Omega Auctions said. Shea Stadium was The Beatles' biggest concert - and the biggest ever pop concert by any group up to that date.
Weather Report - It has been confirmed that Singin' in the Rain will close in the West End this summer ahead of a national tour. It will end its run at the Palace Theatre on 8 June and then begin its tour at Manchester's Opera House on 13 November. The show will continue at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre for the Christmas and New Year season before visiting other venues including Birmingham Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Southampton's Mayflower Theatre.
Goodnight - Madness brought the curtain down on BBC Television Centre with a concert outside the iconic building last Friday. The band played a mixture of old songs and new tracks in front of the venue, which is closing its doors on Easter Sunday after 53 years. The show was screened live on BBC Four.
(Jim Evans)
